2027: IPAC Women Directorate Unveils Action Plan to Eliminate Gender Barriers
By Musa Wada.
The National Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Dr Yusuf Dantalle, has called on all stakeholders not to relent in their support for women in politics.
Dantalle made the call while speaking at a two day capacity building conference, public presentation of the 2024-2028 action plan and inauguration of the state chapters of the women directorate of Inter- Party Advisory Council, IPAC, in Abuja.
The conference themed, “Breaking Barriers and Shaping Positive Attitudes for Inclusive Politics in Nigeria” was aimed at sensitising women in politics.
The two-day conference was organised by National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), in collaboration with the IPAC Directorate of Women Affairs.
According to the IPAC boss, “It is obvious that democracy is dependent on active participation and representation of all citizens in democratic institutions and processes. When a section of the society is under-represented in policy discussions, they feel marginalised. This is the case with women who constitute about 50 per cent of the nation’s population. We cannot advance our democracy if half of the population is excluded from the political sphere. This injustice shall not stand”.
To this end, he charged Nigerian women to rise up and take their rightful place in politics and governance, saying, “It is time for them to break the glass ceilings, join political parties of their choice, contest various elective positions and prove their ability to lead, bearing in mind that power is not given; it is taken. If women do not participate in the electoral process, there is no way they can be elected president or vice-president, governors or deputy governors, senators, House of Representatives members, state legislators and councillors”.
Also speaking, Director-General of NIPSS, Prof. Ayo Omotayo, who was represented by the Director of Administration, NIPSS, Suleiman Kabir, said, “This conference, therefore, comes at a crucial juncture. It serves as a crucial platform for political leaders, women leaders, policymakers and intellectuals to tackle key issues. These issues include identifying barriers to women’s participation, shaping positive societal attitudes toward women’s leadership and developing inclusive strategies for political engagement”.
Also, the Executive Director of the Directorate of Women Affairs IPAC Hajia Zainab Ibrahim Abubakar is saddled with the responsibility of coordinating women in politics through IPAC.
Hajia Abubakar who is also the deputy woman leader of APC and chairman federal medical center Gombe equally called for greater participation of women in politics and increased inclusion in governance.
